Early starts essentialDon Toole | First Published: July 2012

Going on many reports from local anglers in past weeks, this winter in the Bay is shaping up to be one of the best in recent years.

The Northern Bay can provide many options for anglers in July and best of all you don’t need a boat. Land-based anglers are getting involved with all foreshores producing well through winter.

Early, cold starts are definitely worth it when heading out to some of our islands in Moreton Bay. That being said, good preparation is most important when starting a session in the dark; it increases your fishing time and ensures you get home safely.

Be sure to prepare your baits in a variety of portion sizes to suit a variety of fishing conditions. Also, pre-made traces allow for an easy re-rig after bust-offs or snags. Berley lasts a lot longer and is more effective when thawed properly before you launch your boat.

Saving time while you fish is very productive, so having a small aquarium net for removing live bait from wells is handy, as is having pilchards already set with gangs with a snap system at the terminal end.

The shallow waters of our Northern Bay from Cabbage Tree Creek to Scarborough Reef are a vast hunting ground especially for jew and tailor in July, with high tides your pick times.

FRESHWATER

With the bass season closed until the end of August, a lot of attention falls on our dams in winter. North Pine and Somerset produce outstanding winter bass in our cooler months and this month is no exception as reports from both dams have been fantastic.

Golden perch are still being caught and are a regular trolling by-catch. Saratogas get very shy as temperatures drop, but spinnerbaits still seem to get results right through winter.

Large groups of bass can be easily located in mid-water through winter, but getting a response is another story. This is a good time to try some of those more obscure patterns in your box. One good option is a wet fly, such as Matukas or Streamers, fished on spin gear with the assistance of a split shot to obtain distance for casting or sink rate suitable for jigging. This method works very well, but needs fine-tuned equipment to be effective.

BRISBANE RIVER

As winter sets in, things are looking good in our main river. Snapper, bream and jewfish tend to dominate things this time of year, with all three turning up in good numbers.

Snapper have been particularly active along the main rock wall on the southern side of the River’s entrance, with squid baits working very well for local bait anglers.

Jewfish have been consistent since May and should only improve through to September, with a lot of fish taken on large plastic fish patterns.

Bream can be caught in all areas now, with lightly weighted baits of flesh an easy and effective choice in all locations.

ESTUARY

Tailor are getting many hearts pumping in the estuaries at the moment with good catches coming from Sandgate, Brighton, Redcliffe, Scarborough and Pumicestone Passage.

Tailor follow a variety of bait as they move along the coast, and estuaries are a favourite hunting ground providing a lot of cover and structure, which tailor use to condense bait and feed. Lures in the form of slugs and hardbodies are usually the go to choice for tailor and tend to keep sharp teeth away from leaders. Poppers have proven very useful in past seasons, with basic patterns fished at medium retrieve drawing aggressive strikes at all times of the day.

Bream are showing up as expected and holding in more open water such as entrances, sand flats and coastal bars.

Jewfish have been caught across the region, with the mouth of Cabbage Tree Creek a stand out location for northside anglers.

The Bay is looking good, so get out there, brave the cold and reap the rewards.